2010-2011 Grants Awarded

Great Opportunities Grants Recipients

The Kalispell Education Foundation has announced the recipients of the 2011 Spring Great Opportunities Grants. These grants were developed to enrich education in the Kalispell Public School System. They are designed to put money directly into the hands of classroom teachers, helping educators make innovative teaching strategies a reality.

The next Great Opportunities Grant deadline is October 14, 2011, and educators may find application information on the website as well. Businesses, organizations, or individuals interested in donating or sponsoring current or future grants are encouraged to contact Anna Marie Bailey at the Foundation for more information.

The 2011 Spring Grants Awarded are:

Audiobooks: Redefining the Notion of Reading

The Kalispell School Libraries will support student achievement across many areas of the curriculum by providing access to audiobook content. These audiobooks will be available across grade levels and will encourage students to read and listen to books at their instructional level. This expanded access to complex literature increases a students’ ability to read independently.

Grief Journey Groups

School counselors will collaborate with staff from Tamarack Grief Resource Center to facilitate school-based grief support groups for bereaved students in Kalispell schools, providing emotional support, education, and safety for students as they journey through grief while also striving to meet important academic goals and personal milestones.

What’s Next? A Simulation of Adult Life

Teacher: Sue CorriganSchool: Flathead High School

Imagine students earning money for attending school and turning in high quality assignments and you are imagining What’s Next? A Simulation of Adult Life. Students with special needs learn skills needed to transition into adulthood. They keep a time sheet and are responsible for financial transactions which they record in a checkbook register. A concluding auction provides an opportunity to bid on items with their earnings.

The 2010 Fall Grants Awarded are:

TASA Interactive Earth Science Program

Teacher: Jaret Stump, Bonnie StreeterSchool: Glacier High School

TASA Interactive will allow all present and future Earth Science students and teachers to utilize interactive technology in any classroom or lab. It will be relevant and will enhance the curriculum, as well as credit recovery programs, special education programs, and kids with limited technology at home.

Combining Literature with the Everday Math Program

Teacher: Mylea OlesenSchool: Peterson Elementary

Coupled with the current use of the Everday Math Program adopted by the Kalispell School District, I propose the purchase of literature books that extend on the lessons and support vocabulary and math concepts.

Jigsaw Journalists

Teacher: Camille HowellSchool: Kalispell Middle School

Jigsaw Journalists will feel a sense of accomplishment by publishing their work in the Flathead Beacon for over 28,000 readers, connecting students with their school, community, and local businesses.

Art Suitcases

The Art Suitcases have been created to bring Art into SD#5’s Elementary Schools. Each suitcase is equipped with art materials not commonly found in the elementary classroom and a folder including the art process step-by-step. These high quality, hands on lessons will boost K-5 student’s creativity and visual literacy.

Let the People Sing

“Let the People Sing” will connect the three directors and 531 singers in the District’s secondary choral programs. The directors will team teach and strategize together how best to inspire students and to build their confidence and singing skills. The students will learn from the unique techniques of each teacher and conceptualize their ongoing music progress through the grade levels.

iPad? iLearn!

Teacher: Brad Nikunen
School: Edgerton Elementary

iPad? iLearn! will provide 4th grade students multiple resources at the tips of their fingers focusing on math, reading, and writing skills. Utilizing the latest technology, this project will motivate, inspire, and reinforce skills, concepts, and application attained in daily instruction.

Mr. Deitz’s Planeteers

Mr. Deitz’s Planeteers will create a community garden to be used by students and staff to enrich the school experience. Students will learn to be good stewards of the land and learn scientific processes along the way.

Money!! Now What??

Teacher: Darla PustSchool: Flathead High School

“Money!! Now What??” will give students skills that they can apply to life after high school and throughout their lives in order to become financially sound citizens. The project will open students’ eyes to the value of managing money properly and how to avoid financial pitfalls.

Talk with Touch!

Teacher: Sean IddingsSchool: Elrod Elementary, Flathead High School

This project will explore the use of the iPad in facilitating the communication skills of students. These students become effective communicators when speech therapy includes multiple inputs–visual, auditory, and tactile. The portable, multi-sensory capabilities of the iPad will improve the effectiveness of interventions used in speech therapy.

The Game of Politics–American Government Simulation

Teacher: Roy Antley
School: Flathead High School

“The Game of Politics” engages students in an authentic and comprehensive process-of- government experience. Instead of merely reading about government, students assume key roles in an actual political environment–as legislators, chief executive, advisors and even media. Through active learning, student achievement is greatly enhanced.